Besides collecting and providing hundreds of vintage or antique
treasures for hundreds of happy clients these 30+ years...

"I take painting daily seriously. It becomes more and more a source
of personal triumph and bliss as I venture out less."

While living out West I retired as an ICU RN at a young age to return to
creative pursuits by starting my first gallery of fiber artwear and jewelry.

At 19, on my own and without a moment's regret,
a choice was made between my two great loves:
the study of art and history or that of the fascinating natural sciences.
Besides, the former would not have readily earned a self supporting
living that the latter could.

Art would wait.

Unfortunately there is not a list of
BFAs and MFAs earned, nor a litany of master smiths
under whom I have studied, as I am self
taught by trial and more trial. Not by choice but by circumstances that have
foisted a rather reclusive way of life upon me after closing
my third and last store in 1999. Fortunately for me a love of
art has been with me since childhood.

My creative
interests have always been so numerous, pushing me to
experiment and to see "what can I do by myself" resulting in a few
decades of trials
and errors to achieve the look that pleases me.

As my career and travels took me from South Central USA throughout various
Western states, finally arriving here where I have resided with my New
Englander husband for > 25 years, I sketched, photographed and noted
what would become many future paintings.

Upon arrival in New England it was easy to see why so many painters have
painted here for generations, yet only a couple of those have managed
to somewhat capture the glorious, expansive Western vistas. Still, both
backdrops are like beautiful fraternal twins providing so many artists so
much inspiration!

My workaholic nature, running my last store store alone 60 - 70 hours a
week, left no time for oil lessons. There were no art
instructors giving oil lessons at 10 o'clock at night! The creative output
occurs in a vacuum often with only the collecting patron providing
the feedback.

This "art training" nor the circumstances that inhibit my outings can keep me from
working at painting every day, as I study, although alone, by reading, sketching,
practicing and painting again and again.

"My wish is that if the collector enjoys my works only half as much as
as I enjoyed creating them, then I am indeed blessed."

Mimi

STATEMENT: Current trends are of little interest to me preferring
to produce works my way.
That many, many patrons have shared my affection for my
pieces is the ever coveted icing on the cake.

By the same token, my metalwork jewelry is not named. For
others it is so cute, but for me it would be the
silliest thing that I could do!

You may not find me
describing the meaning of my metal work, because that too could
be tedious. Of course once the piece is acquired,
when asked by the collector, what fun to share
my possible inspirations and we can name the piece
together.

Paintings: my wish is to provide archival painted work
at times playing with some academic rules, except for the
"fat over lean" rule which is sincerely observed. Much fun can be had
with proportion and perspective. Experimentation with reversals by placing
cool hues in the foreground and warm in the back along with less detailed
foregrounds can be noted from time to time.

Although the painterly style has produced some of my past paintings,
currently this method is less pursued as the dab, dab, dabbing of the canvas makes
me feel a bit unsettled. Slapping a painting together in a couple of sessions
is just not for me. The more languid stokes leaving those more "defined" edges,
give me the sense of order that I consciously seek. After all I paint for
my comfort and to please myself!

My paintings, were it not for the fact that they are portraits or
of places that I have visited, would probably not be titled.
Pieces that have been or may be entered
in art show exhibits are titled to facilitate the
jurying and program process. Currently there are over 100 oils that have
never been made available for viewing and most may remain so.

The pieces may develop as a result of
the journey that my passion, my heart and my hands
take or just because that is what
is.

Regarding my paintings:
there may be hints, questions or hidden symbols.
Thank you in advance
for allowing me my musings...

PS: You will Not find me on any social sites. The only
authorized sites are www.mimideeartwear.com;
mimideeoriginals.com;
Trocadero.com; modernsilver.com; chicagosilver.com, &
readingart.org. That is it! Any other info found
elsewhere is incorrect and unauthorized.

THE GOAL

Oil Paintings:
To create art work that when viewed it may allow the viewer to feel as
if he or she is the first or the only one to arrive there. Unless specifically
painting a building or a person, you may not find many man made items in
my paintings.

Perhaps because of my inner restless nature, I seek to paint placid, serene
locales. Noisy results are just not for me at the moment.

JEWELRY: To create hand fabricated, one-of-a-kind,
somewhat primitive looking, signed studio sterling or fine silver
jewelry sculptures, sometimes using Mother Nature's
own pearls and semi-precious gem stones, not as an
afterthought but to add a splash of color to what one hopes to be
known for, and that is the generous use of precious metal.

Most pieces be they pendants, bracelets,
pins, rings, etc. are hand fabricated, in a private USA studio,
from beginning to
end from ONE piece of precious metal without cutting
or soldering. Almost like making a sketch without
lifting your pencil.

Also find signed 14K or 18K Gold, 99.9% fine silver,
occassionally with high standard14K heavy clad goldfilled
and
even less frequently hand hammered copper, also at very
fair competitive prices.

To create these pieces
completely by hand , just as primitive
jewelry was made centuries ago, without the use
of modern tools. In fact, just like the Arts & Crafts
period jewelry makers of 100 years ago disdained the
use of modern tools, none are used here.
Look for tiny tool marks capriciously left behind as a
testament to the proud wearer and serious studio
jewelry collector that one pair of hands, not
machines, made this very special, collectible piece!

Search for this Maker's Mark: HANDMADE MIMI DEE
STERLING on the studio pieces, more recently
.999FS (purest silver) and the HANDCRAFTED
IN USA MIMI DEE STERLING tag on the other usually
handknotted jewelry, which is sure to make your pieces quite
collectible, as a book is in the plans of this artist's
signed work.

CLOTHING: Now less frequently
and for established apparel clients only:
To create artful jackets that never go out of style, that
'forgive' the wearer when weight is gained, and that
are un-lined so that they may be worn 10 months a year.
To create them with natural fiber such as silk, linen,
cotton, tencel, etc., using designer fabrics, such as
Lauren, Ungaro, Buchman, Tracey, to name a few.
To create these wearable art pieces with pre-washed
designer fabric, that can be hand-laundered or
dry-cleaned. To create & embellish these happy pieces
using 100 year old buttons or to handpaint them using
artists' paints.

...lastly, as each piece is made, to 'send'
good intentions to the collector:"May this person
enjoy Peace, Good Health, Love, Acceptance & Prosperity"
and most importantly, "may they share these blessings
with those around them!"

MORE FROM THE PAST.....

Mimi, an American, landscape painter, signed
sterling silver studio metalwork jewelry
artist and art to wear apparel artist is
completely self-taught. A "Southcentraler",
she retired as an RN at a young age to pursue
her creative dreams. While living out West,
she (born, remains a girl) met & fell in love with her
"New Englander" husband (born, remains a boy).
They married here and still live in New
England.

Miss Dee operated her third and final store/gallery/studio
for several years until 1999. The philosophy
always being to create one-of-a-kind, signed pieces and
give the best, courteous customer service one can give.
It was not uncommon to spend 3-4 hours with
one client, seeing most on an appointment only basis to
provide this "Southern Style" service complemented
with snacks, beverages and fine chocolates.

A psychologist - customer use
to come in to the store between patients for some "retail therapy".
More recently, sadly, while viewing a December 2012 tragic event on TV,
the superintendent of schools being interviewed is none other than a
client who in 1996 visited, collected and commissioned work from the once open
Mimi Dee Artwear studio store.

On one occasion, a suitcase was packed full of newly commissioned
art to wear apparel for a busy Reading, MA physician, who was on her way to
Logan airport (6AM) to show at a televised dog show.
This physician had commissioned this multi faceted artist to create a
suitcase full of wearable art apparel.
One plastic surgeon wears Ms. Dee's artful jackets
to her busy office.
Why not, aren't they as comfortable as lab coats, but
far more stylish?

A couple of attorneys wear this
artist's signed jewelry to the office & court, although
the ornate clothing not to litigate! A well
known Boston sports writer wears MIMI DEE
ORIGINAL fiber art apparel when she has appeared
on T V while covering the Boston Red Sox and New
England Patriots. One client who had been ill,
"threw" on her Mimi Dee hand-painted denim duster for
her Dr.'s visit only to be
told, 'you look fabulous!'...even "curb delivery
service" was provided for wheel
chair bound clients.

Alas... This brick & mortar business no longer exists,
but signed pieces continue to be created for the many
clients, who reside in three continents. The sounds of their
happy shopping voices are sadly missed. Current and commissioned
work is available to interested select galleries and for this internet business
of www.mimideeartwear.com.
Keeping in touch by 'real' mail
with many established clients and art patrons jewelry
collectors who continue to support and collect this work is a
continued practice.

Ms Dee still creates and finishes all the
work alone in this USA studio (not open to
the public) and has never out sourced.